Water pollution at record levels as a new report from Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) accuses the water industry of falling short of the Environment Agency’s target to reduce pollution incidents.
In 2024, water companies in England recorded 2,487 pollution incidents—more than double the target set by the Environment Agency. This marks the highest number in a decade, despite promises to clean up their act. The water industry was meant to reduce pollution by 40%. Instead there was a 30% increase.
While private water companies handed £1.2 billion to shareholders, they also dumped 4.7 million hours of sewage into waterways in 2024 representing 592,478 spillages in one year and contributing to water pollution at record levels.
Polling 2,000 adults, SAS found that 27 per cent of people in England have considered not paying their bill due to the actions of their water supplier. Water bills surged by 47% this month and are expected to keep rising, with customers projected to pay £160 more in 2030 compared with 2024.
SAS’s report also raises concerns about where this money is being spent and calls for radical reform of the privatised industry.
Meanwhile the financial services publication Morning Star reports that Yorkshire Water Services Ltd has been forced by Ofwat to pay out £40 million to address failings over wastewater and sewage.
The industry regulator said an investigation into the company found “serious failures” over how it operated and maintained its sewage network which resulted in excessive spillages from storm overflows. Ofwat said Yorkshire Water has admitted its failings and agreed to the enforcement package. It will pay out £36.6 million over the next five years to prioritise work on particularly problematic storm overflows in environmentally-sensitive areas.
The water firm, which supplies more than five million customers, will also hand £3.4 million to the Great Yorkshire Rivers Partnership. Yorkshire Water increased its annual bill for customers by 29% from 1 April.